How do drivers in <Your Town Here> React to Filtering?

[Participant]

That's great but everything I said still applies in relation to his comment.

He 'hates' it when bikes jump 2-3 car queues. Wow.

 

[tom_e]

I don't need to feel superior to people in cars, I'm also rarely in that much of a rush that being behind someone doing below the speed limit is going to cause me any real annoyance.

So what if someone doesn't like the action of another, as long as he's not ramming them off the road for it what difference does it make.

 

[Participant]

I don't need to feel superior to people in cars, I'm also rarely in that much of a rush that being behind someone doing below the speed limit is going to cause me any real annoyance.

So what if someone doesn't like the action of another, as long as he's not ramming them off the road for it what difference does it make.

None to me, but I'd still like to challenge his opinion.

 

[tom_e]

https://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18683859&highlight=filtering I don't think ttaskmaster will be changing his opinions on filtering any time soon

 

[ttaskmaster]

Point missed; whether or not it's up to the rider is not being debated. It's the attitude of car drivers to filtering that is.

Yup, this.

Ask yourself why you hate it. And it's 'I hate it when they do that', not 'I hate when they do that'.

Grammar - Get stuffed. I really don't care.

As for why - Read the whole sentence again.
Filtering past just 2-3 cars before then moving forward off the lights, going a mere 30 yards and then sitting in traffic. That IS just filtering to get one over on the couple of cars in front and it winds car drivers up more than if you filter a couple miles of motorway.
In short, you're not actually making progress, so filtering is pretty pointless.

As far as getting sandwiched between two cars goes - That's exactly what happens when you filter to the front, except they're now at your sides instead of front and back and will be much closer, as well as potentially not having seen you. Much more dangerous.
At least before, you can control your distance from the one in front... unless you go past the car at the front of the lights, invariably entering the 'bicycle space', which is illegal.

Filtering past 2-3 cars at lights is totally logical and normal.

Not if the road ahead is solid traffic with no further passage anyway.

Firstly it gives you a feeling of power and superiority over the stupid frustrated cagers,

My bike cost 1/57th of the average car. For that money, I do 0-60 in 2.8 seconds and pay less than a hundred quid for road tax. I also get quite reasonable MPG and black leather always looks awesome.
I already have power and superiority in spades!!

secondly it might save you time sitting behind someone on 40mph in a 60mph road for the next 5 miles.

0-60 in 2.8. Overtakes are not a problem!!

ttaskmaster is a biker.

Well, I used to be... then I gave up the chrome and bandannas, got a proper bike and became a motorcyclist!!
I occasionally have to drive a cage, but as yet don't even own one myself.

I don't think ttaskmaster will be changing his opinions on filtering any time soon

Meh... I spent a lot of time geeking out on things like Roadcraft and learning when it is/isn't advantageous to undertake various manoeuvres. Seeing exceptionally high statistics on certain things obviously colours one's opinion... but despite having actually been rear-ended and never had an incident while filtering, I still find the latter gives a LOT more in the way of close calls, with cars pulling out being a very close second. It just tallies with the stats and if I'd not been paying attention at the time(s) I'd have been just another statistic many times over.

 

[Nomisf]

Meh... I spent a lot of time geeking out on things like Roadcraft and learning when it is/isn't advantageous to undertake various manoeuvres. Seeing exceptionally high statistics on certain things obviously colours one's opinion... but despite having actually been rear-ended and never had an incident while filtering, I still find the latter gives a LOT more in the way of close calls, with cars pulling out being a very close second. It just tallies with the stats and if I'd not been paying attention at the time(s) I'd have been just another statistic many times over.

I'm starting to wonder if I may have seen you riding around Reading, as it sounds like quite a distinct riding style you have developed - Any chance you have seen a clapped out Y-Reg Red Deauville charging about with a fat guy on top ? Thats me

 

[ttaskmaster]

I'm starting to wonder if I may have seen you riding around Reading, as it sounds like quite a distinct riding style you have developed - Any chance you have seen a clapped out Y-Reg Red Deauville charging about with a fat guy on top ? Thats me

Not that I specifically recall, but I'll keep an eye out...
You'll most likely see me blazing up or down the A33 from Rose Kiln down and past J11.

I wouldn't say my riding is especially distinctive. I try to stay safe and leave a big margin for other people's errors, but that doesn't mean I'm slow or never filter. Quite the opposite, in fact. I just only tend to filter when it makes a difference - Case in point being yesterday, when I filtered ALL the way home.

I actually had an argument with another rider over the fact that I don't use my headlight when it's blindingly bright sunshine - I feel that if cars can't see me as is under those conditions, a headlight isn't going to help and I have to ride around that fact. He was more of the 'Loud Pipes Save Lives' school of thought.

 

[Dogbreath]

Grammar - Get stuffed. I really don't care.

If the impression you convey to other people through poor writing doesn't bother you, why do you get bothered about other people filtering?

Filtering past just 2-3 cars before then moving forward off the lights, going a mere 30 yards and then sitting in traffic. That IS just filtering to get one over on the couple of cars in front and it winds car drivers up more than if you filter a couple miles of motorway.
In short, you're not actually making progress, so filtering is pretty pointless.

If you've moved forward then you have made progress.

FWIW I don't filter aggressively, but from my (sadly) numerous years of experience the majority of road users will hold you up when the traffic frees up so if you have an opportunity to get past safely why not take it?

 

[phil675]

if you have an opportunity to get past safely why not take it?

This, I'd rather pass a bunch of stationary cars than overtake them through town. I basically filter whenever there is enough space unless it's two trucks next to eachother etc, depends on the junction.

 

[ttaskmaster]

If the impression you convey to other people through poor writing doesn't bother you, why do you get bothered about other people filtering?

So using a turn of phrase is poor grammar, now?

If you've moved forward then you have made progress.

Not according to my instructors and examiners (car and bike).

so if you have an opportunity to get past safely why not take it?

Two poxy cars?
OK, fine, whatever makes you feel better about yourself. Thanks for ****ing off other road users who will then vent that on us.

 

[Fireskull]

If a filter is done correctly and safely how is as you put it ****ing off other road users? As has already been said car drivers with any sense know how much bikers filtering reduces congestion!
Once I get past those two cars there will be more cars up ahead to filter past also, if you sit back behind two cars for no reason you are just making your journey unnecessarily longer.

My stance on filtering is DO IT, thats the main benefit of having a bike, if you are not going to filter then you are contributing to congestion and traffic and might as well sit in a nice AC car and listen to some music, if they banned filtering I simply wouldn't ride on the road (or take the plate off.....) same goes I wouldn't live in a country that didn't allow it.

Not according to my instructors and examiners (car and bike).

So what your two instructors said is gospel? give over, we've got plenty of people here who's instructors have said otherwise, If you filter safely it IS making progress, theres no other word for it lol, your not making backward progress or hindering yourself or anyone else.

 

[wazza300]

How can you upset car drivers if you just filter past 2 or 3 to get to the front? They can't see whether you've come from 2 or 100 cars from behind?

You'll be off and gone long before they put their cars into first gear anyway

 

[Craig321]

Filtering passed any amount of cars is always worth it in terms of progress because:

• They will pull off slower than you bike, so on pull off you've already made progress over them. If you're behind them for a few traffic lights, roundabouts, etc. then all that adds up
• There's a good chance they'll drive slower than the speed limit
• They might hit more traffic, so you're now behind those cars and behind the traffic rather than being able to negotiate the traffic separately

If you've ridden with another person who decides to filter passed a couple of cars & you stick behind those cars, you will see the difference in progress.

 

[Yaayuh!]

It would really suck if i didn't filter on my commute.

Both on the A1 and in Baldock is a bit of a nightmare. Below is a very good day in terms of congestion.

 

[ttaskmaster]

If a filter is done correctly and safely how is as you put it ****ing off other road users?

Same way it ****s them off when cars forcefully overtake just to get one space ahead.
A bunch of vehicles, sure - THAT is progress. One or two is just willy waving and pointless auto-filtering, which is the issue that was raised.

Once I get past those two cars there will be more cars up ahead to filter past also

Re-read what I wrote again about auto-filtering in SOLID TRAFFIC... FFS!!!

if you sit back behind two cars for no reason you are just making your journey unnecessarily longer.

Whereas if you filter past 2 cars at the lights, you can BLAZE away at MAX SPEED for a whole 15 yards, before having to come to a complete stop and then sit in traffic that you CANNOT filter past without riding into an oncoming vehicle.... Congratulations, you have saved 3 whole seconds on your otherwise torturously long journey... Woohoo, progress.

if you are not going to filter then you are contributing to congestion and traffic

If that were the main reason to have a bike, they'd teach you filtering from CBT, surely?
Got four bike schools round here, none of which do anything of the sort and I've yet to meet a single biker who was taught to filter before passing their full test... Most know you *can* filter even on the test, but it's not actually taught.

So what your two instructors said is gospel?

Should be, yes... Given that the examiners concur and they are the ones who'll fail you if they so deem it, yes, they should be talking gospel and I've no reason to question them. More so with the one who was a Police M/C instructor on top.

If you filter safely it IS making progress, theres no other word for it lol, your not making backward progress or hindering yourself or anyone else.

Many vehicles, yes. Clear road ahead, yes.
2 vehicles, with no further progression possible, no. It's barely more than riding the clutch and creeping forward a few inches.

How can you upset car drivers if you just filter past 2 or 3 to get to the front?

As mentioned above.

They can't see whether you've come from 2 or 100 cars from behind?

Wanna bet?

You'll be off and gone long before they put their cars into first gear anyway

Again, re-read my earlier posts - Gone where? You have 15 yards before you and can only get in front of the car you just went around.

They will pull off slower than you bike, so on pull off you've already made progress over them. If you're behind them for a few traffic lights, roundabouts, etc. then all that adds up

In many cases, you'd be lucky to save 2 minutes.

There's a good chance they'll drive slower than the speed limit

Oh really?
Doesn't matter if I'm doing 60 or 160, there's usually some **** in a BMW trying to go faster than me...

If you've ridden with another person who decides to filter passed a couple of cars & you stick behind those cars, you will see the difference in progress.

I see that 'difference' almost every day with several bikes that share my commute... After 20-25 minutes of riding, those that filtered past the small bits usually end up about 4 cars ahead of me. Woohoo, progress.

 

[wazza300]

Hehe smoke a joint n calm down

 

[Craig321]

It's just cos he doesn't know how to filter properly.

 

[IC3]

 

[Kreeeee]

I was taught to filter on my lessons and had to do it on the test.

I was also told I would have had to retake the test if I didn't filter as the test would have been cancelled.